Last Report: 09/26/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 239,705
Return Rate: 23.3%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 129,464 54.0 504,556 25.7
Republicans 39,094 16.3 185,393 21.1
Minor 667 0.3 4,508 14.8
No Party Affiliation 70,480 29.4 334,191 21.1
TOTAL 239,705 100.0 1,028,648 23.3
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 184,024 76.8
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 55,681 23.2
TOTAL 239,705 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 174,039 72.6 692,160 25.1
Non-Hispanic Black 38,573 16.1 183,739 21.0
Hispanic 4,103 1.7 23,897 17.2
Non-Hispanic Asian American 4,115 1.7 24,718 16.6
Non-Hispanic Native American 776 0.3 4,334 17.9
Other/Multiple/Unknown 18,098 7.6 99,800 18.1
TOTAL 239,705 100.0 1,028,648 23.3

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 9,717 4.1 80,449 12.1
26 to 40 25,378 10.6 172,361 14.7
41 to 65 79,032 33.0 378,278 20.9
66 and up 119,002 49.6 397,560 29.9
TOTAL 239,705 100.0 1,028,648 23.3

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 126,833 52.9 560,291 22.6
Male 101,742 42.4 403,914 25.2
Unknown 11,130 4.6 64,443 17.3
TOTAL 239,705 100.0 1,028,648 23.3

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 4,134
Rejection Rate: 1.7%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 2,596 62.8 132,060 2.0
Republicans 677 16.4 39,771 1.7
Minor 12 0.3 679 1.8
No Party Affiliation 849 20.5 71,329 1.2
TOTAL 4,134 100.0 243,839 1.7
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 1,859 45.0 175,898 1.1
Non-Hispanic Black 1,706 41.3 40,279 4.2
Hispanic 128 3.1 4,231 3.0
Non-Hispanic Asian American 102 2.5 4,217 2.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 23 0.6 799 2.9
Other/Multiple/Unknown 316 7.6 18,414 1.7
TOTAL 4,134 100.0 243,839 1.7
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,028,648
Request Rate: 14.4%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 319,163 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 504,556 49.1
Republicans 185,393 18.0
Minor 4,508 0.4
No Party Affiliation 334,191 32.5
TOTAL 1,028,648 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 692,160 67.3
Non-Hispanic Black 183,739 17.9
Hispanic 23,897 2.3
Non-Hispanic Asian American 24,718 2.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 4,334 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 99,800 9.7
TOTAL 1,028,648 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 80,449 7.8
26 to 40 172,361 16.8
41 to 65 378,278 36.8
66 and up 397,560 38.6
TOTAL 1,028,648 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 560,291 54.5
Male 403,914 39.3
Unknown 64,443 6.3
TOTAL 1,028,648 100.0